[GRLUG] OFF TOPIC Electric Car

[Bob Kline]

Right to the point.  Asking an
electric car to be just like a gasoline
powered one is what ends up making
them so expensive.  I rarely drive more
than 25 miles in my day to day wanderings,
so a car that even got 35 miles on a charge
would satisfy my needs 99% of the time.
One could either have a conventional car
for extended trips, or, if those are infrequent,
just rent a car for those occasions.

Having a car specifically for in-town, short
trips, would likely keep the price down.  One
could even entertain the notion longer term
of an on-board, tiny gas or diesel generator
that would run as much as necessary to
supply additional miles.  Or just plug the thing
in somewhere now and then.  Or just haul one's
little Honda generator along on those days when,
say, they need to go 30 miles....

Your notion of the golf cart with a fiber glass
shell is very much to the point.  Get a car that
really fulfils your needs - which very few people
seem to actually do - and the costs could be
very low.  Oh, and make your second car a
one-ton, one-liter, gas powered model, and you'll
get 40 mpg even in town.  I know.  I have one.



On Mon, Dec 1, 2008 at 4:35 PM, David Pembrook <david at pembrook.net> wrote:

> Collin Kidder wrote:
> > I'm starting to think that I've scared everyone away by saying that it's
> > a 5-15k proposition. Heck, it can range into the 30's if you want
> > lithium ion cells and ultra caps.
> Another thought would be an urban only car. If I have 2 cars and neither
> are driven far, I could have one that is limited in range and not care
> at all.
>
> I keep look at the humble golf cart. It doesn't go that fast (doesn't
> need to). Take the concept,  widen and lengthen the chassis, enclose
> with a fiberglass body. Add a gear box so we can hit 45. Of course the
> biggest problem would probably be making something like that street legal.
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